Introduction: Johnís account of the resurrection
differs significantly from the Synoptics.†
Some have, of course, concluded that these variances demonstrate that
the disciples manufactured these narratives; however, we might suggest an alternative
view.† Recall that, strictly speaking,
the gospel writers did not intend to give an historical account of the events
of this first Easter.† Instead, they
wrote in a kind of sermonic style meant to recount the events of Jesusí life
and call men to faith in Christ.† The
details they included report real historical occurrences, but the writers did
not provide a detailed chronology of the events of Easter morning, like we
might find in a contemporary historical monograph. Each of the authors
presented a unique perspective on the resurrection, and Johnís account
manifests several distinctive elements of the story. Rather than erode our confidence
in the integrity of the Scriptures, these variances should confirm that these
authors did not merely conspire to create a parroted resurrection story;
indeed, they penned their stories with faithful adherence to the sources and
testimonies available to them (See Luke 1:1-4 and Acts 1:1-3).

Some New Testament critics relish pointing out the
differences in these accounts; however, the honest Bible student must
acknowledge one central thought.† All of
these gospel writers believed that Jesus rose from the dead.† The stubborn reality merges clearly from the
most cursory reading of the texts.† As we
study Johnís account of the resurrection, let us keep central the common
assertion of all the gospel writers; the tomb of Jesus was found empty on
Easter morning.

I.Mary and The Disciples at the Empty Tomb (John
20:1-10)

A.Matthew informs us that an earthquake occurred and an
angel rolled the stone from the mouth of the tomb (Matthew 28:2-4).† The Jews had posted guards at the sepulcher,
and they ďbecame as dead menĒ when the angel appeared.

B.John
recounts the journey of Mary Magdalene to the tomb (v.1).† The Synoptics made clear that she did not
come alone.† Mary the mother of James and
Salome accompanied Mary Magdalene (See Mark 16:1). Also, the journey of women must
have occurred just at daybreak.† John
says it was still dark (perhaps he described the conditions when they left
their homes), and Markís account specifically states that the sun had risen
(maybe the sun had risen by the time the women arrived at the tomb).† John included no information about the women
seeing the angels or the Lordís instructions for the disciples to meet him in Galilee
(See, for instance, Mark 16:2-8).

C.Mary
Magdalene, astonished by the open crypt, ran to tell Peter and an unnamed disciple
(most assume this was the Apostle John) that Jesusí body was no longer in the
tomb (v. 2).† Apparently, the poor,
startled woman surmised that someone had taken Lordís corpse.†

D.Peter
and the unnamed man ran to the tomb and discovered, just as Mary had told them,
that the body was gone.† The grave
clothes lay in the tomb, and someone had folded the head cloth and placed it
apart from the other grave linens (vv. 5-8).†
The man who accompanied Peter concluded immediately that the Lord had
risen from the dead even though he had little understanding of the message of
Scripture. It is difficult to determine what passage of Scripture John had in
mind.† Leon Morris suggests that John thought
of Hosea 6:2, Jonah 1:17, Isaiah 53:10-12, and Psalm 16:10.

II.Maryís Encounter with the Risen Christ (John 20:11-18)

A.Mary returned to the tomb, presumably, after the two
disciples had left for their homes.†
Apparently, the events of the morning had confused and grieved
Mary.† Perhaps she still did not know
what to make of all of this.† As she
wept, this dear woman stooped down to peer into the tomb.† Perhaps she wanted to confirm, once more,
that the Lordís body was really gone.†
She saw two angels sitting in the sepulcher, and they engaged her in a
brief conversation (vv. 12-13).† It seems
that these may have been the angels who appeared earlier to the women (See
Matthew 28:5-8, Mark 16:5-7, and Luke 24:4-8).†

B.After
conversing with the angels, Mary turned abruptly and observed a man standing
near her.† In her confusion, she mistakenly
concluded that this must be the gardener, and perhaps he might have removed the
body of Jesus (v. 15).† The Lord called
her name, and she suddenly realized that this man was not the gardener; rather,
it was the Lord himself (v.16).† Mary
embraced the Lord, and he gently rebuked her.†
The verb tense used by John may well indicate that he meant for her to
discontinue an action (clinging) she had already begun.

III.Jesusí Encounter the Disciples (John 20:19-29)

A.Jesus
appeared to the disciples (vv. 19-23): Leon Morris believes that this
appearance of the resurrected Lord corresponds to the story recorded in Luke
24:36ff.† John, of course, recalled
elements of the story not recorded in Luke, but several similarities seem to
corroborate Morrisí assertion. †If he is
correct, this event occurred on Sunday evening, after Jesus had appeared to the
two men on the road to Emmaus. The disciples gathered clandestinely for fear of
the Jews, and Jesus miraculously appeared before them.† The Lord spoke words of peace to the huddled
band of believers, and breathed on them, thus bestowing on them the Holy Spirit
(v. 22). A.W. Pink, J.C. Ryle, and John Calvin agree that verse twenty three
describes the responsibility of the apostles to proclaim the message of forgiveness to the world; that is, they
were commissioned to declare whose sins were forgiven, and whose sins were not
pardoned.† Pink, in particular, found
repugnant any notion that Jesus gave the apostles a special privilege to
absolve men of their sins.† Moreover, he
equally found repulsive the notion that the apostles then passed this
prerogative on to succeeding bishops in the early church.

B.The
confrontation with Thomas (vv. 24-29): This episode appears only in Johnís
Gospel.† Thomas was not present at
Christís first appearance to the disciples, but eight days after the
resurrection, the disciples enjoyed another miraculous visit with the
Savior.† Like before, they had locked
themselves into a secure room, and the Lord suddenly appeared in the room.† After a greeting of peace, Jesus invited
Thomas to examine the Saviorís wounds for himself (v. 27).† It does not seem evident from the text that
Thomas availed himself of the invitation; rather, he immediately acknowledged
Christís lordship (v. 28). Note the Lordís gracious disposition and patience
with this poor, doubting man.

C.The
purpose of the Gospel of John (vv. 28-29): John makes his purpose
unmistakable.† He wrote this book in
order that men might believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and, attendant to this
believing, they might have life in the name of Jesus.